Axios Founders Argue AI Has Increased Workplace Clutter
The creators of the concise news format claim that artificial intelligence has paradoxically made professional communication more verbose rather than efficient, leading to a surge in unnecessary work.
Three years after their method for concise corporate communication became a standard in many industries, the founders of Axios are diagnosing a new problem: artificial intelligence. Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz recently discussed their new book, Simplify, which argues that AI has not lightened workloads as promised. Instead, the technology has flooded offices with more presentations, longer emails, and a general increase in activity that creates motion without actual progress. The core argument is that while AI was sold as an efficiency tool, it has currently made professional life more complex rather than simpler.
The issue is not just about internal workflows but also how companies present themselves to the outside world. Allen noted that incoming pitches and internal communications have all multiplied. He attributes this to human nature, suggesting that left to their own devices, people tend to complicate their lives. Meetings stack up, and habits become bloated. Without a ruthless approach to auditing and deleting unnecessary tasks, employees do not feel the liberation of having more free time. This phenomenon is often described as a trap of work-like activity, where the effort put in does not translate into meaningful results.
AI creates motion without progress
VandeHei explained that employees are not being lazy or stupid, but rather they are struggling to distinguish between real work and busywork. AI has added a layer of confusion, generating content that requires exhaustive review even if the creator has no experience in that area. This has created a sense of energy and life in the workplace that lacks meaning. The founders argue that most companies have been clumsy in implementing AI, often neglecting how it interacts with existing processes, data pools, and security systems. The result is a chaotic environment where the technology, while potentially amazing, fails to deliver the promised benefits.
To address this, the trio proposes a recurring audit, conducted more frequently than most companies are accustomed to. VandeHei, who previously ran this exercise quarterly, is now trying to do it monthly and is considering a weekly cadence. The process involves asking three key questions: What are the things you actually need to be doing in one order? What are the things you can stop doing? And what are the things you can automate? This framework is designed to help companies navigate the current moment of AI integration, where many are scrambling to figure out how to use the technology effectively without letting it consume their resources.
The cost of cognitive overload
The stakes of this inefficiency are high when measured in hours. Allen points out that of the 168 hours in a week, sleep and work eat up roughly 90 to 100. Research from Harvard suggests that people spend half of their remaining time thinking about things unrelated to what they are doing. This leaves most people in control of only about one-sixth of their own lives. The founders argue that this lack of control is a direct result of the current workplace culture, where the pressure to do more leads to a paradoxical decrease in actual productivity. The solution, they suggest, is not to work harder, but to work smarter by ruthlessly cutting out the unnecessary.
Learning to say no effectively
Allen, known for his privacy, has applied these principles to his personal life. He advocates for the use of two simple words: "I'm booked." This phrase allows individuals to decline invitations or requests without apology or explanation. It is a boundary that protects personal time and mental energy. By saying "I'm booked," people can maintain their focus on what truly matters, rather than getting sucked into the endless stream of work-like activity. This approach is not about being rude, but about being realistic about one's capacity. It is a practical tool for navigating the modern workplace, where the default setting is often to say yes to everything.
The founders of Axios, as reported by Fortune, are not alone in their assessment of AI's current impact. Many industry observers note that the technology has introduced a new layer of complexity to professional life. The challenge for companies is to integrate AI in a way that enhances productivity without adding to the clutter. This requires a shift in mindset, from a focus on doing more to a focus on doing better. It means being willing to say no to new projects, to audit existing processes, and to automate tasks where possible. The goal is not to eliminate work, but to eliminate the waste that surrounds it. This is the core of the Simplify framework, and it is a message that resonates with many professionals who are feeling the strain of the current digital environment.
